National Archives and Records Administration
	The Hoovers in China   Christmas 1899
	On a return journey from Hen Si I came into Kalgan a gate to the Great Wall of China on Christmas Eve with snow and temperatures below zero. The caravan was tired out from my pushing to arrive home to be with Mrs. Hoover for Christmas--but it was impossible and the caravan must have rest. * * * * * [This next day] I called upon the Mission. Here I found some twelve American men, women and children under the direction of a beautiful old gentleman Dr. Williamson. It was a large compound of schoolrooms, living quarters and medical clinic. The good doctor asked me to stay to Christmas dinner and promised turkey. It was a good dinner but the fine American faces were a better tonic...I found that among the Christmas gifts from the states for the Mission Chinese children were four regulation footballs. Dr. Williamson's daughter seemed stumped on what to do with them. I suggested I was experienced in that game and if they would produce the players I would instruct. She produced three hundred alert youngsters in usual Chinese dress and loose shoes with snow on the ground. I divided them into two equal squads, put all four balls into play, and signaled for them to go in opposite directions. In a minute, 300 pairs of shoes were flying in the air but not even the stocking feet in the snow checked the vitality of the kids. These missionaries were good folks of whose devotion Americans can be proud. *The Memoirs of Herbert Hoover, Years of Adventure, 1874-1920, Volume 1, Herbert Hoover Handwritten Drafts, Box No. 1
	Memoirs of Herbert Hoover | Lou's Story | Letter to Evelyn Christmas 1899 | Using Primary Sources with Students
National Archives and Records Administration hoover.webmaster@nara.gov Last updated: August 15, 2007